Railway-switch.



(No Model.)

Illi Illlllllll] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

DUNCAN MACPI-IERSON, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 652,033, dated June 19, 1900. Application filed June 5,1899. Serial No. 719,431. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DUN CAN MAGPHERSON, of Jthe city of Montreal, in the district of Montreal and Province ot' Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the same.

My invention relates particularly to the construction of the outer switch-rail, illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me on the 22d day of December, 1891, under No. 465,531; and it has for its object to construct said switch-rail to overlap the main rail to a maximum extent and at the same time bring the bearing center of the end thereof as near as possible to the bearing center of the main rail, and thus obviate any chance of the wheels of a narrowgage `truck failing to properly mount the switch-rail.

My improved switch-rail consists of a length of rail having one end bent inwardly toward the main rail and downwardly, the top thereof planed and the side adjacent to the main rail beveled, the portion contiguous to the end portion just described being straight or parallel to the main rail, then portion contiguous to the straight portion and between that and the heel curved.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like symbols indicate the same parts, and wherein- Figure 1 is a plan View of a switch set for siding, the outer rail whereof is constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar viewI set for a clear main track. Figs. 3 and 4c are respectively an enlarged side elevation and plan of my improved switch-rail; Fig. 5, an end view of same with main rail shown in section on line 5 5, Fig. 1; and Fig. 6, an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 6 6, Fig. 1.

My improved switch-rail has the portion adjacent to the end thereof that connes into Contact with the main rail bent inwardly, as at h, and downwardly, as at c, the side thereof adjacent to the main rail being beveled or cut away on a diagonal line extending from the point of juncture of the bent-down portion withl the main portion of the switch-rail to the inside face of the web, as at d. The top of the inwardly and downwardly bent portion is further inclined by being planed, as at e, to insure its extreme end lying lor enough beneath the head of the main rail g to prevent its being struck by worn tires or tripped upon by chains or the like that may be hanging from passing cars, the remaining portion of the switch-rail being raised sufiicientl y to enable its head to overlap the main rail, as at k. A short distance from the inwardly-bent portion the main portion of the switch-rail is horizontally curved, as at m, while the portion o, intervening the said inwardly-bent portion and curved portion, is straight.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated the switch as it appears when set fora siding. By reference to this figure and to the detail illustrations in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 it will be observed that the offsetting of the rail portions contiguous to the straight portion o (by the inward curve m from the heel of the switch-rail toward the main rail and the inward bend h and downward bend c and planing d) has the eiiect of causing the said straight portion o to overlap the main rail to the extent of having its web (see Fig. 5) lie in close contact with the side of the head of the main rail and the under side of its head rest upon saidhead of the main rail. This construction secures the maximum extent of overlap and insures that even the wheels of a narrow-gage truck will mount the switch-rail instead of, as might happen, running inside of the switch-rail.

The structural advantage of my improved rail is, as before mentioned, that the portion o of the switch-rail will overlap the main rail to a maximum extent, thereby bringing the bearing center thereof as near as possible to the bearing center of the main rail, and, furthermore, the web of my switch-rail will remain intact and unsevered from the head at any point and extend completely from end to end thereof.

It is obvious that although I have illustrated and described my invention as applied to the construction of the outer switch-rail, any rail member of a switch that is con- IOO ` switch-rail having a portion bent inwardly toward said iirst-mentioned rail, and astraight horizontal portion contiguous Vto said inwardly-bent portion. ,A

3. A movable switchmail comprising an end portion bent downwardly and a part of such end portion bent laterally; and a straight horizontal portion adjoining the end portion, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

4. A movable switch-rail comprising an end portion bent downwardly and a part of such end portion bent laterally; a straight horizontal portion adjoining the end portion, and a horizontally-curved body portion, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with a stationary rai1,of a movable switch-rail oomprisinga portion bent inwardly toward said stationary rai1,a straight horizontal portion contiguous to said inwardly-bent portion, and a portion curved outwardly from said stationary rail, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination Witha stationary rail,of a movable switch-rail com prisingaportion bent downwardly and inwardly toward said horizontal portion contiguous to said inwardlybent portion, and a portion curved outwardly from said stationary rail, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'7. In combination with a stationary rail,of a movable switch-rail comprisinga portion bent inwardly toward said stationary rail,and having its side adjacent to said stationary rail beveled substantially as described, a straight horizontal portion contiguous to said inwardly-bent' portion, and a portion curved outwardly from said stationary rail, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination with a stationary rail,of a movable switch-rail comprising a portion bent downwardly and inwardly toward said stationary rail, and having its side adjacent to said stationary rail beveled substantially as described, a straight horizontal portion contiguous to said inwardly-bent portion, and a portion curved outwardly from said stationary rail, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A movable switch-rail comprising a horizontally and downwardly bent end portion having one side beveled substantially as described; a straight horizontal portion contiguous to said first-mentioned portion; a curved portion contiguous to said second-mentioned portion and a straight heel portion, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUNCAN MAoPI-IERSON.

Witnesses:

FRED J. SEARS, R. A. XVIMBER. 

